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DEN Enews
Finally Spring!
Diocesan Environment Network
May 19, 2026
It’s finally spring. The bulbs are blooming, the pollinators are awake and the gardens and outdoor activities are calling us out into this beautiful world. I hope, wherever you are, you are finding joy in the longer days and the sunshine.
East Coast Environmental Law Webinar
Join the Coastal Coalition on June 3rd (7-6pm) for a special webinar from Staff Lawyer Mike Kofahl at East Coast Environmental Law. The presentation will be about the risks and responsibilities of using certain types of coastal imagery in coastal advocacy. This is an informational presentation and will not constitute legal advice. Here is the Zoom link for the webinar.
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Coastal Appreciation Week 2026
The Coastal Appreciation Week Event Page is now live. There are a handful of events listed already with more to be posted in the coming weeks. Please be sure to share this with your friends, family and networks. Coastal Appreciation Week will run from July 11-19th. Let's get the word out and get as many people to celebrate our coast as possible :)
The Coastal Coalition are still soliciting events from groups across Nova Scotia. If you would have an event during that time (+/- a couple of days either side is ok too) or would like to host an event for CAW 2026, please reach out to [email protected]
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Click here for full details and to register:
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So many walks around town. Check out all the listings and register here:
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Hello friends of green burial
Come gather in community for meaningful conversation about green burial, end-of-life choices, and caring for the earth through death care. Whether you’re simply curious or actively planning, all are welcome.
Thursday, May 21, 2026 from 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM Halifax Central Library Room 301
5440 Spring Garden Rd, Halifax, NS
Keeping the "Know" in Nova Scotia: Land Conservation & OECMs
Provincial and federal governments are increasingly relying on something called OECMs (Other area-based Conservation Measures) rather than designated parks and protected areas. So, what are OECMs, and why does it matter? Well, OECMs are a legitimate category of Protected and Conserved Areas, but there's a real and growing risk that governments can misuse OECMs to artificially inflate their protected areas numbers (like what's happening in Alberta). But together, we can make it clear that Nova Scotians expect real and lasting nature conservation, not creative accounting.
Check out the EAC's new fact sheets on OECMs, part of our ever-growing library of online resources, so you know what to watch out for.
We are watching a new source of environmental disaster unfold. AI data centers are not compatible with life as they produce noise and light pollution that harms humans and wildlife, require large amounts of land, and consume an unsustainable amount of water and energy. Across the world, communities are realizing the devastation and demanding leaders press pause on this frantic, unregulated data center race. Despite this, our Prime Minister just announced a multi-million dollar AI factory cluster - right in the middle of Vancouver and Kamloops! Crammed in between crowded neighbourhoods, these AI factories will suck up precious water and energy, while eating away land that could have been used for affordable housing. The government claims they are critical to Canada’s ‘data independence’, but they rely on US tech giants like Google cloud to transfer and store data. This is the same Google recently subpoenaed by Trump’s DHS to provide private data for a Canadian critical of Trump. Tell Mark Carney to pause the permits and construction of data centers.
Our federal government has announced several ‘major projects’ that read like an oil oligarch’s wish list. Pipelines are not a path to a resilient future; they are a dangerous step backward. They don’t enrich Canada or protect our future; they enrich multi-billion-dollar corporations and put everyday people on the hook for the climate disasters they cause. Floods, wildfires, heat domes, and more are fueled by the greed of the fossil fuel industry and already cost communities. As the world responds to the need to transition to renewable energy, pipelines tie Canada to a dirty and declining industry. Help urge our country to stop ignoring alarm bells by catering to fossil fuel lobbyists and axing climate policies. Instead, let's have bold leadership that aligns with science and the public will. Join in saying no to new pipelines in a climate emergency.
Corporations are collecting billions through war-driven prices spiking. While conflict and economic chaos impact people around the world, oil and gas companies in Canada are making skyrocketing profits. They are set to rake in an EXTRA $60 billion within a year. Our government has the power to step in and tax excess profits, which it has before in times of crisis. A strong windfall tax could redirect billions toward lowering the cost of living, investing in public services, and accelerating the transition to clean energy. We can not just sit back while corporations exploit a crisis. Tell Prime Minister Carney to stop war profiteering.
Endangered Species Day was on May 15th. Sadly, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) just declared emperor penguins as a newly-endangered species. Sea ice is imperative for these birds. It’s not only where they live and breed, but also where they hunt for fish. As climate change intensifies, sea ice rapidly disappears. On top of this, fish are changing their migration habits. Together, this is making survival increasingly difficult for emperor penguins. Two things need to happen urgently. First, major industrialized countries - which are responsible for the vast majority of greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change - need to genuinely commit to cutting their emissions to net zero. And second, they must also implement strong protections for emperor penguin habitat. Add your name to demand international cooperation to save emperor penguins.
Seedy Saturdays
It may not have been a Saturday, but it certainly was full of seeds, plants, and gardeners at the Blandford Community Centre on May 10. Grandma even played hooky from the church service to help set things up, though the rest of the congregation kindly joined me after prayers.
This was only our second time offering a free seed and plant exchange, where people could pick up seeds, seedlings, and whatever treasures we could dig up from our own yards. Last year we found ourselves wrestling sunshades in the middle of a torrential downpour. This year we wisely booked a room inside the hall. The rain held off until afterward, but we were not taking any chances.
So, what does a Seedy Saturday teach you? First, you discover you are not alone.
There are, in fact, quite a few people who get downright excited about gardening, even if it is only a windowsill plant or a few pots on the step. In our tiny village, close to thirty people turned up. Around here, that is better attendance than many recreation events manage.
People are often amazed that we offer everything free of charge. Perhaps we are doing this all wrong! Seed companies donate many of the flower and vegetable seeds, and for the past two months Grandma’s seed box has travelled faithfully from meeting to meeting. Whatever remained after the event was packed up and passed along to another community garden. Nothing wasted. Nothing charged.
I had also gathered materials for making seed bombs and still have enough supplies left for several future events. For anyone unfamiliar with them, seed bombs are made from clay-based kitty litter, potting soil, seeds, (3:3:1) and whatever is enough water, rolled into little balls and left to dry. Once ready, they can be tossed into forgotten corners and bare patches to brighten things up with flowers for the pollinators.
A little gentle guerrilla gardening never hurt anyone.
One of the nicest parts of the day was meeting people I had never met before, despite them living just up or down the road. One young woman loves gardening and is looking for a place to volunteer. Another couple offered to help as well, though she already volunteers at another community garden that could use seeds, which, thankfully, is one thing we seem to have plenty of.
There was sharing everywhere you looked.
One gardener dug up enough oregano plants for at least eight people to take home a start. Parsley arrived in carefully made seed snails and milk-jug greenhouses. Wild onions were plentiful enough for a dozen people to share.
Grandma even set up a little show-and-tell table. There were photos from past years showing how to make planting pots from newspaper and a soup can. A reusable grocery bag had been transformed into a potato garden. Old milk jugs cut and shaped like cats were happily growing lettuce.
And yes, Grandma made more seed bombs for future adventures in beautification. I already have my eye on a few spots around the village that could use a cheerful splash of colour. The only thing left is waiting for the seed bombs to dry before quietly rolling them here and there.
With thanks to our parish volunteers and community helpers, we had a beautiful Seed Share event. And yes, I could not resist bringing along more pollinator wildflower packets and yet more lettuce seed. Bless William Dam Seeds, they sent enough lettuce seed to seed down half the province.
It is not too late to hold your own seed or plant exchange. It does not need to be grand. A few packets of seeds or a small table of plants at the back of the church after service is enough to begin.
Because alongside the greenery, something else grows too.
You grow friendships.
You grow community.
You grow hope.
And perhaps most importantly of all, you discover that you are not alone.
The green world is growing!
Seed Share Update
Oh, Grandma was just bouncing this week. I decided to try a little experiment to see whether this might be something worth continuing another year.
Grandma went to a family farm market. They grow fields of crops and years ago added greenhouses and a flower section they lovingly named “Beulah’s Bloomers” in honour of their flower-loving Grandma. Well, you know Grandma’s heart melted right there.
I asked if they would allow our pollinator seed packets to be set out on the counter for customers to take home. People come to their farm market from all over the province, and I thought perhaps this could be a lovely way to spread our pollinator seeds farther than we could on our own.
Last Thursday I dropped off 250 seed packets.
Monday morning, she called to say every single one was gone.
People were asking all about the project, who was doing it, why pollinators matter, and what the seeds were for. Luckily Grandma had tucked a few brochures in with the packets. Even better, when I asked if, at the end of our packing season, I could bring along the remaining seed packets for them to continue giving away, there was a resounding YES!
Grandma truly was not sure at first whether this was a good idea. Giving away free seed packets made the farm market look good. Supporting a church environmental project in a rural community certainly did not hurt them either.
But in the end, DEN got the real prize.
Our little seed packets, with our name on them, are now travelling everywhere, tucked into pockets, glove compartments, kitchen drawers, and gardens across the province. Tiny packets of flowers and hope heading out into the world.
Thanks, be.
Cottage Cheese Bread
Grandma’s delivery order substituted the cottage cheese. Instead of one double pack or 2 pints I received 2 individual quart size. My only problem was that it was double what I needed for a couple weeks and Grandma worries about anything going to waste. So, let’s make Cottage Cheese Bread
Grandma loves this bread as it doesn’t take any kneading after being mixed and kneaded and put in the pans. The original recipe calls for a cup of egg whites and 4-5 cups of flour. I use 1 egg and a quarter cup of water and use 4 cups flour. When it rises, bake it. Perfect for a busy day. Perfect with my Chicken Rice Soup
Cottage Cheese Bread
Ingredients
1 cup cottage cheese
½ cup warm water
1 tbsp sugar
1½ tsp yeast (or 1 envelope)
1 egg (plus ¼ cup water)
Dash of salt
4 cups flour
Directions
Take out your cottage cheese first thing in the morning and let it warm. Some put it in a food processor and cream it, but I don’t mind a few little lumps in my bread.
Mix your yeast, sugar and water and let it proof or get foamy.
Mix the yeast mixture and cottage cheese and then add flour until it isn’t quite sticky, adding more flour until it feels right.
I cut mine in four pieces turning them into big buns and put two in each bread pan
Let rise till about double and bake at 350F for about 25-30 minutes or until they sound hollow.
If the bread lasts more than the second day freeze it to go with another meal.
That’s all for another week. Grandma needs to get outdoors and put more seeds in the ground and then charge the lawnmower and carry ground places. I am trying to hold off mowing for two more weeks, but I can only promise one week. When the grass gets too high it takes Grandma a couple months to get caught up. If I don’t mow for 3 of the 4 weeks of May, it is still some help.
Take care of yourself, and if you can take care of someone else
Hugs
Grandma.
